The all-important interview: advice from a veteran in the field

By Henriette Campagne

The all-important interview: advice from a veteran in the field

In the second of a two-part Q&A series with Lawyers Weekly (read Part 1 here), Meredith Haviland, chair of the hiring committee at Boston’s Foley Hoag, returns to Career De Novo to offer tips on interviewing for new lawyers and summer associates.

***

Q. The interviewee shows up 15 to 20 minutes before the agreed-upon time. Is that good or annoying? Or does it not matter one way or the other?

A. Most places, especially law firms, will have a waiting area, so from the interviewer’s perspective it doesn’t matter if someone shows up early. The interview will start when the interviewer is ready, regardless of whether the candidate was 15 to 20 minutes early.

That said, my advice would be to aim to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. This will allow for time to get situated, take in the atmosphere of the firm a bit, and, perhaps most importantly, allow for a cushion in case the commute takes longer than expected.

Q. The interviewee is a few minutes late. Is that a deal-breaker?

A. Not a deal-breaker, but you certainly don’t want this to be a factor that is considered in evaluating your candidacy for the position.

Q. Should the tardy interviewee:

a) Call to say he/she is going to be five minutes late?

b) Skip the call and instead explain when he/she arrives?

c) Skip the call and the explanation; just offer a simple “I’m sorry” and move on?

A. If you know you are going to be late and it is unavoidable, a call would be best. This allows for those with whom you are interviewing to make any necessary changes to their schedule or to allow for last-minute juggling of the interview schedule, if needed.

Q. Are thank-you notes passe, or do you look for one after the interview? And is a simple “Thank you for your time …” sufficient? Or are you looking for something more substantive or personal in the note?

A. I certainly do not look for or expect thank-you notes after the interview, but a well-crafted thank-you note is always appreciated. That said, a thank-you note can turn into a negative if there are typos or if the same exact note is sent to all of the interviewers on the schedule — yes, we do compare! So only send one if it is thoughtful — not simply, “Thank you for your time” — and typo-free.

Q. What’s best: ahandwritten or emailed thank-you?

A. Given how quickly things move, especially during the summer associate recruiting season, a handwritten note may very well not be received until after a decision is made on a candidacy. Given that, email is usually best.

Q. Is there anything a candidate can do to save an interview that isn’t going well, say, due to nerves

A. This is a good question. It really depends on the circumstances and the interviewer. I do think a recognition of when things may not be going well can be useful and help lighten the mood. A simple “Wow, I am really nervous” can go a long way.

Q. How quickly are you forming an opinion on the candidate?

A. An opinion is formed before you even get to the interview based on the resume. That is the candidate’s first opportunity to make a good impression. The interview is the candidate’s opportunity to expand on this good impression, and they are 20 to 30 minutes long for a reason. This allows the interviewer to have sufficient time to form and develop their impression of a candidate, and can even allow for time for an interview that gets off to a slow start to develop into a really positive interview.

Q. Any other observations, insights, tips you’d like to offer?

A. The legal market is currently in an interesting place. While the lateral market is hot and there are lots of current opportunities for those switching jobs, the market continues to be extremely tight and competitive for summer associate positions. Each interview is your opportunity to make an impression on those with whom you are interviewing. Take advantage of these opportunities; do your research and come prepared to show the interviewer why you, above all others, deserve the opportunity.